Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an anti-
kickback device for use in a machine of the type used
for ripsawing and square edging lumber in sawmills or
woodmaking industries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Anti-kickback devices are installed on two
types of machines: square edging machines which are
provided with two or more circular saws rotating
against the advance of lumber and having a variable
spacing therebetween, and ripsawing machines which are
provided with multiple circular saws spaced from one
another at fixed intervals. Most of the latter machines
have two saw-carrying shafts, one extending above the
lumber, the other below. ~ach saw on the shaft extend-
ing below the lumber extends in a vertical plane that
includes a corresponding saw on the shaft extending
above the lumber. The saws disposed beneath the lumber
rotate against the advance of lumber while those above
rotate with the advance of lumber.
Square edging machines must be equipped with
anti-kickback devices since the saw-carrying shaft
rotates against the advance of the lumber which can be
projected outwardly towards the ope~ator at the feeding
end of the machine.
The ripsawing machines can also project
lumber towards the operator at the feeding end due to
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the rotational direction of the shaft located beneath
the lumber as well as towards the exit end of the
machine due to the rotation of the upper saws. This
latter type of machine, therefore, requires anti-kick-
back devices at its entrance.
However, because anti-kickback devices are
designed to protect against the projection of particles
or full lumber pieces towards the operator, they have
no use in protecting against projections from the
outlet of the machine and caused by the saws located in
the upper part of the machine.
Anti-kickback devices have two functions:
first, they provide a curtain wall that surrounds the
lumber piece that enters the machine thereby performing
a blocking or sealing function to confine, inside the
machine, all the lumber fragments as well as saw teeth
which may break and be projected exteriorly towards the
operator. To achieve this sealing function, it is
required that fingers that form part of anti-kickback
devices are arranged to have their contour follow as
closely as possible the contour of the passing lumber
to thereby minimize openings to the outside. These
anti-kickback fingers must be narrow and return easily
on the lumber to their closed position; they must have
very little spacing between them.
This sealing function cannot be adequately
obtained with a single series of anti-kickback fingers
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due to the various configurations of lumber pieces
passing through the machine, especially those thick
lumber pieces having irregular shapes.
Hence, a second series of anti-kickback
fingers situated under the lumber is installed on
machines, especially used for ripsawing thick lumber.
Still, two series of anti-kickback fingers
are often still not sufficient to provide an adequate
sealing action on ripsawing machines due to the power
of these machines, to the various configurations of
lumber pieces and to operating and feeding conditions.
Most machines are therefore equipped with a
third series of anti-kickback fingers which are
situated at the feeding end of the machine~ over the
lumber. A lumber piece that will kickback from the
rotating saws to the entrance of the machine, will
contact and pass below the first series of fingers,
raise and pass above the second series of fingers and
then contact and pass below the third series of
fingers.
The vertical distance that extends from the
tip of one series of fingers to the tip of the
successive series of fingers is called the "overlap".
Sealing is better obtained if the overlap is
substantial. This overlap is usually expressed in
percentage of the maximum thickness of the lumber which
passes through the machine (ex. 75~ of 8 inches).
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In addition to sealing, another feature
required on an antikickback finger is its ability to
bite into and retain the lumber pieces, which would
otherwise kickback. In order to adequately achieve this
function, the fingers must contact the lu~ber with an
angle which varies relative to the shape and the wear
of the tip as well as to the physical and mechanical
properties of the lumber. Beyond a predetermined tip
wear, the action of a finger depends solely on the
coefficient of friction between the finger extremity
and the lumber. The coefficient of friction therefore
determines the minimum contact angle required. In order
to accomplish this second function, the fingers must be
strongly built in order to oppose the kickback forces.
They must have a sharp extremity as well as maintain,
for various thicknesses of lumber passing by, an angle
which is equal or less than the angle corresponding to
the coefficient of friction between the tip and the
lumber.
It is recognized that presently used fingers
provide inadequate sealing due to various reasons, such
as a low tip overlap, a large spacing between the
fingers at the level of the tips and the general
configuration of the fingers.
Various unsuccessful attempts have been made
to increase the reliability of fingers with respect to
their function of "biting and retaining". Principal
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causes are the wrong angles of lumber attack with which
they must work and the rapid wear of the tips.
Exception being made with lumber pieces of small
thicknesses (approximately 3 and 4 inches) for finger
tips located above the lumber, none of the fingers
operate with angles which are less than the
corresponding angle of coefficient of friction between
a worn tip and lumber. The second series of fingers
located underneath the lumber operate with an angle of
attack which is largely greater than the angle
corresponding to the coefficient of friction between
the lumber and the tip. Therefore, it is rare that
these fingers effectively operate in conditions to
"bite and retain" the lumber (which is then kicked
back).
Conclusively single tip fingers cannot
perform adequately both functions, sealing and "biting
and retaining" simply because both functions are
incompatible with each other; if a finger adequately
performs the sealing function, it is then too long to
perform the "biting and retaining" function and vice
versa, if a finger performs adequately the "biting and
retaining" function, it is too short to perform
adequately the sealing function.
The extremities of the fingers presently used
wear out rapidly. It is extremely difficult to sharpen
them on location or to replace them since the entire
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finger assembly must be dismounted. With the exception
of the extremities of the second series of fingers, all
others wear according to various angles depending on
the thickness of the lumber which passes in the
machine; this thickness varies from one lumber to
another.
The extremities of the second series of
fingers wear out to a shape which is somewhat more
rounded than those of the other two series as they
operate constantly under the same angle of attack.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide fingers in which one or both functions, sealing
and "biting and retaining", are adequately incorporated
in the design of each finger.
It is also an object of this invention to
provide on the type of machines described above three
series of anti-kickback fingers which are of varying
configuration from one series to another.
One function of the first series of fingers
is to retain the lumber which could kickback. This is
achieved by giving a curved shape to the finger that
carries the tips. Since the wear of a single tip for
various lumber thicknesses is considerable, the present
invention is concerned with providing a different tip
for each of the various thicknesses of lumber ti.e.
from 1 to 8 inches). Wear will occur principally with
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the selected angle of attack, thereby improving the
performance of the tip. Furthermore, the tips are
removably installed along the curved edge of the
finger, thereby increasing their reliability.
S As the tips made in accordance with the
present invention now work with a safety angle of
contact which is based on friction only, the wear of
the tip only causes a reduction in the angle of contact
thereby increasing the capability of the tip to retain
1 the lumber in case of kickback.
The above described functions of sealing and
biting and retaining must also be present in the second
series of fingers. Each finger includes two tips, one
small, one long. The small tip performs the function of
biting and retaining. Its angle of attack with the
lumber remains constant because the tip lies on the
underside of the lumber.
The long tip provides the sealing action
while improving the overlap. This second tip is
maintained sharpened but without being overly so in
order to prevent the fingers from being suddenly forced
to open as a result of the presence of a pointed lumber
piece that would be squeezed between the tip and the
upstream portion of the lumber, especially at the end
of the sawing operation.
The main function of the third series of
fingers is to provide sealing. These fingers must have
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all of the features associated with this function,
which is described above with respect to the second
series of fingers.
The present invention therefore relates to
anti-kickback device for preventing lumber from being
thrown in a direction opposite to the feeding direction
of the lumber in the machine; it comprises two or more
shafts mounted transversely of the frame upstream of
the saws; a series of adjacently disposed fingers
defining a protective curtain mounted on the shafts;
the fingers being pivotably mounted on the shafts and
adapted to be moved as lumber is processed to the
circular saws; each finger of a series mounted on one
of the shafts having a curved edge including a
plurality of pointed lumber-engaging elements
peripherally spaced along this curved edge to engage
lumber at various optimum angles depending on the size
of lumber.
Other objects and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that
this detailed description, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, is given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
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art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sawmill
machine incorporating an anti-kickback device made in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken
along lines 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of a
finger used in the present invention for various
thicknesses of lumber;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a pointed
element of a finger made in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a finger of
the first series;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a finger of
the second series; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a finger of
the third series.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a
sawmill machine 10 displaying a frame 12 and a cover
assembly 14; a lumber piece 16 is shown being processed
through the machine. This machine may be used for
ripsawing or square edging lumber.
Figure 2 shows the machine as comprising a
plurality of upper and lower circular saws ]8, 19,
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mounted parallel on their respective rotatable arbour
20, 21 which are supported to the frame 12 in the usual
manner. As with conventional machines of this type, a
plurality of upper pressure feed rolls 22 and of lower
motorized feed rolls 23 are used for moving the lumber
to the battery of saws 18, 19. The arbours of rolls 23
together with arbours 20 and 21 are driven by means of
a motor 26 (see Figure 1) appropriately equipped w.th
means (not shown) to transmit torque from the motor to
these arbours. A series of hydraulic cylinders 28 are
provided for operating the pressure rolls 22. It is
believed that a detailed description of the sawmill
machine is not necessary as these machines are
conventional and well known.
Also, well known is the provision of a series
of fingers mounted at the infeed side of the machine.
In the machine illustrated, three sets of fingers 32,
33 and 34 are shown mounted on their respective shafts
36, 37 and 38, all parallel to one another. The series
of fingers 33 and 34 mainly define a protective curtain
or screen at the infeed side of the machine.
As can be seen in Figure 2 the fingers in
contact with the lumber pivot or move as the lumber is
inserted in the machine; the others of the series which
are not contact by the lumber remain in the
screen-forming closed position. A series of hydraulic
cylinders 40, 41 assist in the opening of fingers 32,
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33 and 34 respectively. These fingers have tips or
pointed extremities adapted to slide along the lumber
as it is being processed in the machine but also to
engage the lumber, should a rearward movement of the
lumber occur in the direction opposite to the feeding
movement, as indicated by arrow 44.
Referring more particularly to Figures 3, 4
and 5, the finger 32 of the first series is adapted to
move in a circular direction as shown by arrow 49. This
finger defines a curved lower edge 56. A series of
pointed elements 58 are peripherally mounted along this
edge. Each element 58 consists of a support 60 (see
Figure 4) which is secured by a bolt 62 to the finger
edge 56, and of a blade 64, preferably made of carbide
material, which is fixedly attached to the support 60.
As shown in Figure 3, each blade of each element 58
defines a specific angle with respect to the pivot axis
36 to thereby provide various engaging angles to the
lumber being processed through the machine and thereby
adapt to various thicknesses a, b, c, d, e, f of lumber
or various configurations of the upper surface of the
lumber being processed through the machine.
Figure 6 shows the configuration of finger 33
of the second series of fingers mounted on shaft 37.
This finger has two tips: one small 62, one long 64.
The small tip 62 has a construction similar to that of
tip 58: it consists of a support 66 bolted at 68 to the
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finger and of a blade 70, preferably of carbide
material, fixedly secured to the support.
Figure 7 shows the configuration of finger 34
of the third series of fingers mounted on shaft 38.
S This finger has a long tapered tip 72, to the extremity
of which is fixedly secured a blade 74, preferably of
carbide material.
Although the invention has been described
above in relation to one specific form, it will be
evic`ent to the person skilled in the art that it may be
refined and modified in various ways. It is therefore
wished to have it understood that the present invention
should not be limited in interpretation except by the
terms of the following claims.
